New Plymouth District councillor Murray Chong is tracking traffic usage on Devon Street West, filming a series of drives to compile independent data before a council vote this September on the future of the cycleway separators.
Driving the stretch widely known as "Tim Tam Alley," Chong has recorded 32 daytime videos at random intervals to contrast his findings with official monitoring systems.
Throughout the videos published so far, Chong stated there has been a total of 7,777 vehicles recorded, 53 bicycles using the designated cycleway, and 55 cyclists riding on the adjacent footpath.
He said the objective is to provide an independent, comprehensive dataset for elected members before the New Plymouth District Council makes its final decision in September.
While the council currently operates AI cameras within the trial zone, he wanted an end-to-end overview of the entire route.
The filming occurs during daylight hours in clear weather, including peak travel times such as the morning and afternoon school runs.
This independent monitoring follows a council debate in December 2025, where a motion to immediately remove all concrete separators and return the road to its original layout was defeated.
Seeking a compromise, elected members voted 9-6 to support a motion by Councillor David Bublitz to launch a temporary trial to evaluate costs and practical designs.
In March 2026, contractors implemented the trial by removing sections of the concrete blocks between Morley Street and Belt Road, replacing them with two distinct types of low-profile rubber alternatives, alongside a control stretch left completely clear of separators.
Public dissatisfaction with the original installation has remained high since its introduction under a central government transport funding scheme.
Local retailer Shane Devlin organised a community petition that drew more than 7,000 signatures, citing tyre damage, eliminated street parking, and restricted paths for emergency services.
Mayor Max Brough, who campaigned heavily on removing the barriers, previously nicknamed the new 80mm-high rubber dividers "Mallowpuffs" due to their forgiving design.
The full findings from the council's tracking cameras will be presented to elected members in September 2026. This review will determine whether the dividers are permanently modified, completely removed or retained.
Cr. Chong's latest video in the series is below 👇
